Description

In the midst of the mid‑sixteenth century, the Portuguese crown commands a massive defensive wall to be raised at Alcácer, a strategic outpost vulnerable to Moorish attacks. The king’s trusted captain, D. Duarte, oversees the labor day and night, rallying soldiers, carpenters and officials to fashion a fortification stronger than any that had come before. The narrative captures the urgency of building a barrier that can both protect the village and withstand the sea‑borne threats that loom on the horizon.

Meanwhile, the Moors, aware that the new wall could cripple their foothold, dispatch alcaides with cavalry and foot soldiers to sabotage the work. A captive from Lagos, known as the Talheiro, and his Moorish friend Azmede become unlikely messengers, slipping crucial warnings to Duarte just as the enemy’s plans tighten. Their secret exchange sets a tense stage of loyalty, espionage and the fragile hope that swift action might preserve the nascent defense before it is undone.

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